10384678

Autonomous Vehicle Action Communications

PublishedAugust 20, 2019
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
8 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating between vehicles having one or more autonomous operation features, comprising: receiving, at one or more processors in a first vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, a communication from a second vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, wherein the second vehicle is within a communication range of the first vehicle, wherein the communication includes identification information for the second vehicle, an indication of a location of the second vehicle, an indication of a requested first maneuver for the first vehicle to perform, an indication of a number of passengers in the second vehicle and respective locations of the passengers within the second vehicle, and an indication of a second maneuver to be performed by the second vehicle, and wherein the first and second vehicles are travelling on a same road; analyzing, at the one or more processors, the communication from the second vehicle and identifying the first maneuver for the first vehicle in response to the second maneuver communicated to be performed by the second vehicle, wherein the second maneuver to be performed by the second vehicle includes that a collision between the first and second vehicles is imminent, and when the second vehicle includes one or more passengers and the first vehicle does not include any passengers, the first maneuver in response to the second maneuver is to veer off the road to avoid the collision with the second vehicle which contains passengers; and causing, by the one or more processors, the first vehicle to move in accordance with the first maneuver.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to a system for autonomous vehicle communication to prevent collisions. The technology addresses the problem of avoiding accidents between autonomous vehicles when a collision is imminent, particularly when one vehicle has passengers and the other does not. The method involves a first autonomous vehicle receiving a communication from a second autonomous vehicle within its communication range. The communication includes the second vehicle's identification, location, a requested maneuver for the first vehicle, passenger count and locations in the second vehicle, and the second vehicle's intended maneuver. If the second vehicle's maneuver indicates an imminent collision and the second vehicle has passengers while the first vehicle does not, the first vehicle is instructed to veer off the road to avoid the collision. The system prioritizes the safety of occupied vehicles by directing unoccupied autonomous vehicles to take evasive action. This approach ensures that vehicles with passengers are given priority in collision avoidance scenarios, leveraging inter-vehicle communication to enhance safety in autonomous driving environments.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein when the second maneuver includes the second vehicle travelling at speeds above a threshold speed due to an emergency, the method further comprising: transmitting, by the one or more processors, one or more additional communications to one or more third vehicles on the same road as the first and second vehicles, wherein the one or more additional communications include indications that the second vehicle is travelling at speeds above the threshold speed due to the emergency.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to vehicle communication systems designed to enhance safety during emergency maneuvers. The problem addressed is the lack of real-time information sharing between vehicles when one vehicle is traveling at high speeds due to an emergency, potentially endangering other road users. The solution involves a computer-implemented method that detects when a second vehicle exceeds a predefined speed threshold in an emergency situation and automatically transmits alerts to nearby third vehicles on the same road. These alerts inform the third vehicles of the second vehicle's high-speed travel, allowing them to take evasive or precautionary actions. The system ensures timely dissemination of critical information to prevent collisions or accidents. The method may also include additional steps such as determining the second vehicle's position, assessing road conditions, or coordinating with traffic management systems to optimize safety responses. By integrating emergency speed detection with proactive communication, the invention improves situational awareness and reduces risks for all road users.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more third vehicles are farther from the second vehicle than the first vehicle.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to a computer-implemented method for managing vehicle interactions in a transportation network, particularly addressing the challenge of optimizing vehicle positioning and coordination to improve efficiency and safety. The method involves a system that monitors the relative positions of multiple vehicles, including a first vehicle, a second vehicle, and one or more third vehicles. The system determines the spatial relationships between these vehicles, specifically identifying when the third vehicles are positioned farther from the second vehicle than the first vehicle is. This positional data is used to adjust vehicle operations, such as routing, speed, or communication, to enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, or prevent collisions. The method may also involve dynamic updates to vehicle trajectories based on real-time positional changes, ensuring continuous optimization of vehicle interactions. By leveraging computational analysis of vehicle proximity, the system enables more precise and adaptive control over vehicle movements, particularly in scenarios where maintaining safe distances or optimizing spatial arrangements is critical. The invention is applicable to autonomous vehicle networks, fleet management systems, or intelligent transportation infrastructure.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a communication from a second vehicle includes receiving, at the one or more processors, a plurality of communications from a plurality of second vehicles each having one or more autonomous operation features, and further comprising: analyzing, by the one or more processors, the plurality of communications to identify the first maneuver for the first vehicle in response to a plurality of second maneuvers performed by the plurality of second vehicles, wherein the first maneuver is identified to avoid each of the paths of the plurality of second vehicles according to the plurality of second maneuvers.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to autonomous vehicle coordination systems, specifically methods for avoiding collisions by analyzing communications from nearby vehicles. The problem addressed is the need for autonomous vehicles to dynamically adjust their paths based on real-time data from other autonomous vehicles to prevent collisions and ensure safe navigation. The method involves a first autonomous vehicle receiving communications from multiple second autonomous vehicles, each equipped with autonomous operation features. These communications include data about the second vehicles' maneuvers, such as lane changes, turns, or braking. The first vehicle's processors analyze this data to identify a safe first maneuver that avoids the paths of the second vehicles. The analysis ensures the first maneuver does not intersect with any of the second vehicles' paths, preventing potential collisions. The system dynamically processes incoming data to continuously update the first vehicle's path, adapting to the movements of surrounding vehicles in real time. This approach enhances safety by leveraging cooperative data sharing among autonomous vehicles to navigate complex traffic scenarios.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. A computer system configured to communicate between vehicles having one or more autonomous operation features, the computer system comprising one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to: receive, in a first vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, a communication from a second vehicle having one or more autonomous operation features, wherein the second vehicle is within a communication range of the first vehicle, wherein the communication includes identification information for the second vehicle, an indication of a location of the second vehicle, an indication of a requested first maneuver for the first vehicle to perform, an indication of a number of passengers in the second vehicle and respective locations of the passengers within the second vehicle, and an indication of the second maneuver to be performed by the second vehicle, and wherein the first and second vehicles are travelling on a same road; analyze the communication from the second vehicle and identifying the first maneuver for the first vehicle in response to the second maneuver communicated to be performed by the second vehicle, wherein the second maneuver to be performed by the second vehicle includes that a collision between the first and second vehicles is imminent, and when the second vehicle includes one or more passengers and the first vehicle does not include any passengers, the first maneuver in response to the second maneuver is to veer off the road to avoid the collision with the second vehicle which contains passengers; and cause the first vehicle to move in accordance with the first maneuver.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to a computer system for coordinating maneuvers between autonomous vehicles to prevent collisions. The system enables communication between two autonomous vehicles traveling on the same road, where one vehicle (the second vehicle) transmits data to the other (the first vehicle). This data includes the second vehicle's identification, location, a requested maneuver for the first vehicle, passenger count and positions within the second vehicle, and the second vehicle's intended maneuver. The system analyzes this data to determine if a collision is imminent. If the second vehicle has passengers and the first vehicle is empty, the system directs the first vehicle to veer off the road to avoid the collision, prioritizing the safety of the second vehicle's occupants. The system processes this information using local or remote processors, transceivers, and sensors, ensuring real-time decision-making to prevent accidents. This approach enhances safety by leveraging vehicle-to-vehicle communication and autonomous control to prioritize passenger safety in collision scenarios.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein when the second maneuver includes the second vehicle travelling at speeds above a threshold speed due to an emergency, the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are configured to: transmit one or more additional communications to one or more third vehicles on the same road as the first and second vehicles, wherein the one or more additional communications include indications that the second vehicle is travelling at speeds above the threshold speed due to the emergency.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to a computer system for enhancing vehicle communication in emergency situations. The system addresses the problem of ensuring timely and accurate information dissemination when a vehicle is traveling at high speeds due to an emergency, such as a medical emergency or urgent response. The system includes processors, transceivers, and sensors that detect when a second vehicle exceeds a predefined threshold speed, indicating an emergency. In response, the system transmits additional communications to nearby third vehicles on the same road, alerting them that the second vehicle is traveling at high speeds due to an emergency. This allows other vehicles to take appropriate action, such as yielding or adjusting their routes to avoid collisions or delays. The system may also include features for detecting and responding to other maneuvers, such as sudden braking or lane changes, to further improve road safety. The communication between vehicles is facilitated through local or remote processors, ensuring that the information is relayed efficiently and reliably. The invention aims to reduce accidents and improve traffic flow by providing real-time emergency alerts to surrounding vehicles.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more third vehicles are farther from the second vehicle than the first vehicle.

Plain English Translation

A computer system monitors and manages vehicle interactions in a traffic environment. The system identifies a first vehicle and a second vehicle, where the second vehicle is in a position that may cause a collision with the first vehicle. To mitigate this risk, the system detects one or more third vehicles that are farther from the second vehicle than the first vehicle. These third vehicles are used to adjust the trajectory or speed of the second vehicle, ensuring it avoids a collision with the first vehicle. The system may also analyze the positions, speeds, and trajectories of the third vehicles to determine the safest path for the second vehicle. This approach leverages surrounding vehicles to dynamically adjust the second vehicle's movement, reducing collision risks in dense traffic scenarios. The system may integrate with autonomous driving technologies or driver assistance systems to enhance safety and efficiency in vehicle navigation.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein to receive a communication from a second vehicle, the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are configured to receive a plurality of communications from a plurality of second vehicles each having one or more autonomous operation features, and the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors are further configured to: analyze the plurality of communications to identify the first maneuver for the first vehicle in response to a plurality of second maneuvers performed by the plurality of second vehicles, wherein the first maneuver is identified to avoid each of the paths of the plurality of second vehicles according to the plurality of second maneuvers.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to a computer system for coordinating vehicle maneuvers in autonomous driving environments. The system addresses the challenge of safely navigating a first vehicle among multiple other autonomous vehicles by analyzing their movements to determine an optimal path. The system includes processors, transceivers, and sensors that receive communications from multiple second vehicles, each equipped with autonomous operation features. These communications are analyzed to identify a first maneuver for the first vehicle based on the maneuvers of the second vehicles. The system ensures the first maneuver avoids the paths of all second vehicles by evaluating their movements and selecting a trajectory that prevents collisions or conflicts. This approach enhances safety and efficiency in autonomous vehicle coordination by dynamically adapting to the actions of surrounding vehicles. The system may operate locally within the first vehicle or remotely via cloud-based processing, ensuring real-time decision-making. The invention improves upon prior systems by integrating multi-vehicle data to optimize path planning, reducing reliance on individual vehicle sensors alone.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

August 20, 2019

Inventors

Blake Konrardy
Scott T. Christensen
Gregory Hayward
Scott Farris

Want to explore more patents?

Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.

Citation & reuse

Analysis on this page is generated by Patentable — an AI-powered patent intelligence platform. AI-generated summaries, explanations, FAQs, and analysis may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL below. Patent abstracts and claims are USPTO public domain.

Cite as: Patentable. “Autonomous Vehicle Action Communications” (10384678). https://patentable.app/patents/10384678

© 2026 Nomic Interactive Technology LLC. Machine-readable context available at /api/llm-context/10384678. See llms.txt for full attribution policy.